Name That Depressant
This class of drugs includes Xanax, Ativan, and Klonopin.
What are benzodiazepines?
Depressants primarily increase this calming neurotransmitter.
What is GABA?
True or False: If a medication is prescribed, it cannot be addictive.
What is false?
Stopping benzodiazepines suddenly can cause this dangerous neurological event.
What are seizures?
One healthy alternative to manage anxiety without medication.
What is deep breathing/grounding/mindfulness?
This powerful depressant is responsible for most overdose deaths when mixed with opioids.
What is alcohol?
This life-threatening effect occurs when breathing slows or stops.
What is respiratory depression?
Most fatal overdoses involve more than one drug. This is called ______ use.
What is polysubstance use?
Needing more of a drug to get the same effect is called ______.
What is tolerance?
This type of therapy helps patients challenge distorted thinking.
What is CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)?
Ambien and Lunesta fall under this sleep medication category.
What are Z-drugs (sedative-hypnotics)?
A common cognitive effect of depressants is impaired ______ and judgment.
What is memory?
Mixing alcohol with benzodiazepines increases the risk of this.
What is overdose (or respiratory failure)?
Anxiety often becomes worse after stopping depressants due to this rebound effect.
What is rebound anxiety?
Having a sponsor, therapist, or support group builds this protective factor.
What is accountability/support?
This depressant class includes heroin, oxycodone, and fentanyl.
What are opioids?
Over time, the brain produces less natural calming chemicals due to this process.
What is tolerance?
This population is at higher risk when using depressants: people with a history of ______ disorder.
What is substance use disorder?
Withdrawal from these two substances can be fatal without medical supervision.
What are alcohol and benzodiazepines?
This practice improves sleep naturally without medication.
What is sleep hygiene?
This older class of depressants is rarely prescribed today due to high overdose risk.
What are barbiturates?
Mixing depressants multiplies risk because they all slow this critical body system.
What is the central nervous system?
This common thought increases relapse risk: “It’s not my ______ of choice.”
What is drug?
Long-term depressant use changes the brain’s ability to regulate this naturally.
What is stress/anxiety/emotional regulation?
Recovery requires learning to tolerate this instead of numbing it.
What are emotions (or discomfort)?